excel vbe userform window not docking

Question

excel vbe userform window not docking

michael coltart 45

I am running office 365 subscription, OS windows 11, on an HP laptop.

Following a recent update the docking of windows in VBE was lost. Despite a 3 day session with Copilot the issue is still not resolved. The Project view is in place. The properties view is not docked.The userform view is not moveable or sizeable. There are scroll bars on the userform view that allow all parts of the view to be accessed.

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Answer 1

Kai-H 26,135 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi, michael coltart

This sounds like the VBE layout was changed or corrupted during the update. Also, the UserForm designer itself is not a dockable window, but it may currently be maximized, which explains the scroll bars and why it cannot be moved.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

In the VBE, select Window > Cascade. If the UserForm designer was maximized, this should return it to a normal window that can be moved and resized.

Select Tools > Options > Docking, make sure Properties Window is checked, then select OK. Press F4 to display Properties, drag it slowly toward the left or right edge of the VBE, and release it when the docking outline appears. Only windows listed under the Docking options can be docked.

If the layout remains stuck, close Excel, restart Windows, and run an Online Repair from Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft 365 > Modify > Online Repair.

Please note that the UserForm’s Left, Top, and size properties affect the form when it runs. They do not control the position of its design window inside the VBE.

Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you.

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michael coltart 45 Reputation points

2026-09-09T15:36:33.48+00:00

I've completed the restart and repair online. I've attached a jpeg of the VBE. I've repeated your options. The project view seems to be in place. The properties view will only dock? top bottom of code area or alongside the Project view. Supplementary question. The code views scroll using the mouse roller. The form view only responds to the scroll bars. Is that correct? My laptop updated during the restart.
michael coltart 45 Reputation points

2026-09-09T15:40:14.6833333+00:00

I've completed the restart and repair online. I've attached a jpeg of the VBE. I've repeated your options. The project view seems to be in place. The properties view will only dock? top bottom of code area or alongside the Project view. Supplementary question. The code views scroll using the mouse roller. The form view only responds to the scroll bars. Is that correct? My laptop updated during the restart.
Kai-H 26,135 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-10T07:21:15.71+00:00

Hi, michael coltart

Thanks for the update. Based on your description, the VBE now appears to be behaving normally rather than remaining damaged.

The Properties window can dock above or below the code area, or beside/under the Project Explorer. It does not have to occupy one particular position, so docking it alongside the Project Explorer is perfectly acceptable.

Regarding scrolling, yes, that is expected. Code windows support the mouse wheel, but the VBA UserForm designer does not natively handle mouse-wheel scrolling in the same way. When the form is larger than the visible design area, you normally use the horizontal and vertical scroll bars.

You can arrange the workspace as follows:

Dock Project Explorer on the left.

Dock Properties directly below it or alongside it.

Leave the code and UserForm design windows in the main center area.

Use Window > Cascade if a design window becomes maximized or difficult to reposition.

The Windows update during the restart may have refreshed the display or VBE behavior, but there is not enough information to confirm that it caused or corrected the issue. At this point, if the UserForm opens correctly and its controls can be selected and edited, no further repair should be necessary.